22 February 2018, Khartoum, Sudan - Statement by FAO Director-General Joseé Graziano da Silva at opening ceremony of the Plenary session, FAO Regional Conference for Africa, 30th Session, 19-23 February 2018. The functions of the Regional Conference are to hold consultations at a high level, to indicate the special problems of the Region and the priority areas which should be taken into account.